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Free Tonight?

A major protest cycle will take place today. The starting point is Merrion Square West [Dublin 2] opposite the National Gallery of Ireland beside the Dublin Bike station.

We will be meeting from 5.15pm. We aim to arrive at the Dáil just before 6pm. We have partnered with our colleagues iBikeDublin who will be protesting on the day with Dublin Cycling Campaign.

The goal of this protest is to remind all election candidates that cyclists are voters and that we will vote in our droves for candidates serious about bringing about a positive change in transport policy with the bicycle at the fore!

We will be asking all local election candidates from Dublin city council, Fingal county council, South Dublin council and Dun Laoghaire Rathdown council to sign the Cycling For All campaign petition.

One of the principles of Cycling For All is to allocate 20% of the transport budget to be spent on Cycling and walking investment. We will be asking this of MEPs also.

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18 thoughts on “Free Tonight?”

So all local election candidates sign so we cyclists can trust any of the candidates, making the whole exercise pointless. Why not just list the names of pro-cyclist candidates based on their previous campaign statements or better yet, actions? I suppose DCC has to look like they are doing anything no matter how pointless they have to justify there charity status (RCN: 20102029) and donations. As with all Irish charities, Id love to see how the moneys spent.

Remarkable that someone of Dr. Paul Corcoran’s standing would participate in perpetuating the myth that “e-scooters” are in some way a grey area, or that it is within the gift of the Dail to make them legal, when the legislation for EPAC is set by the European Parliament for the entire EU.

I don’t think you’re right there, Mickey. I will have a quick scan of EPAC over lunch but I’m quite sure that it refers specifically to cycles, which electric scooters are not, and therefore it would be in the gift of the Dáil to make them legal.

As a disclaimer, I have no idea what he has been saying on the subject.

I didn’t explain myself very well there, did I? It’s a bit of a touchy one for me as I’ve had a (fringe) involvement with the electric bicycle scene for quite a few years and it has taken a gargantuan collective effort over several years to get a pan-European standard for EPAC so that people can use them in all EAA member states without formality (other than the age limit).

The scooter boys claim to fall under the same exemption, but it should be clear from that document that their machines do not comply with EPAC standards, and that they are “mechanically propelled vehicles”. If they want to change that, they will have to do so by lobbying their MEPs

As an alternative to an EU law change, the Dáil is free to introduce whatever exceptions and limitations it wishes for electric scooters, as has been done in several other EU countries including France.

The EPAC rules don’t touch electric scooters at all. That being so, there is no EU rule that covers them. What you’re saying, I think, is that the EU parliament would have to bring scooters within EPAC to make them legal for road use. That isn’t correct. EPAC doesn’t say “and these are the only electric light vehicles we sanction, as a matter of law.”

As something that isn’t covered by EU law, it’s at the total discretion of domestic parliaments to legislate for their use.

I have no wish to tear the botty out of this (but happy to continue with the discussion), and I freely accept that my understanding is flawed. However, that’s not the claim that I’m making.

I’m saying that my understanding is/was that e-scooters by virtue of the fact that they are not exempt by inclusion under EPAC (since they clearly do not meet the definition of bicycle), are in fact mechanically propelled vehicles and are subject to the default requirements re driver licences, insurance, and registration in the absence of any legislation or exemption. It is/was also my understanding that absent a specific derogation, the member state was bound by the EU rules and it that it is not within their gift to provide an exemption.

I searched just now for anything which would give me some clarity on the background to the French situation, but all I find are recent news items saying that the French are moving to ban e-scooters from pavements and that the Spanish have already done so in some cities.

I think this is a shame. Advances in battery technology, power semiconductors, and increased availability of BLDC motors means that small electrically powered transport vehicles are rapidly becoming practical transport solutions rather than just playthings. I see a danger in those who seek to bend/break the present rules to their own commercial ends causing setbacks to the overall progress of the mainstream acceptance of the technology. I’m probably being over cautious and a bit precious about the whole thing – I just happen to think it will prove to be important as we move towards a zero carbon world.

You say that, but previously many elected officials just paid lip-service to providing for cycling infrastructure, things like this. A good turnout at this event will remind all of the candidates that cyclists are taxpayers too, and indeed, voters.